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Comparing The 2017 Frontier & The 2017 Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma midsize truck from your hometown Toyota new car dealer in Newton, NJ, Toyota World of Newton, has long been one of the most rugged and capable off-road pickups on the market. Nevertheless, the Tacoma TRD Pro’s dominance of the dirt hasn’t stopped automakers from challenging its king-of-the-hill status.

TRD Off-Road Double Cab with available Tow Package. Photo: Toyota.com

One of the challengers looking to knock the Toyota Tacoma off its pedestal is the 2017 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. While the Frontier Pro-4X may look the part with unique badging and big tires, does it have the chops under the skin to battle the legendary 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro for backcountry supremacy?

2017 Nissan Pro 4X King Cab. Photo: nissanusa.com

Let’s hit the trail and find out which of these 4X4s makes it to the top of the hill.

Tacoma’s Bold New Styling VS Frontier’s Aging Blandness

Put the 2017 Toyota Tacoma Pro for sale in New Jersey at Toyota World of Newton next to the 2017 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X and it’s pretty easy to see why the Tacoma’s bold and brawny sheetmetal beats out the Frontier’s over-chromed and underwhelming exterior. The Tacoma received a major upgrade last year, including enhancements to its ruggedly handsome styling.

An authoritative, “heritage-inspired” blacked-out front grille and available hood scoop, chiseled character lines, available LED Daytime Running Lights with projector-beam headlights, and available Rigid Industries® LED fog lights give the Tacoma an amplified attitude. The “C-clamp”-inspired taillights with their smoked-black housing give the Tacoma its own distinctive appearance, as does the Tacoma logo proudly embossed on the tailgate just about the handy step bumper.

The Frontier, however, just comes up short. TheCarConnection.com’s Andrew Ganz gives the Frontier’s styling a lowly 4 out of 10 for a look that’s “Familiar and comfortable as a three-day beard.” He adds that “Having been on the market for a decade, the Frontier is a little too familiar now.”

Speaking of short, Ganz bemoans the fact that the Frontier’s maximum bed length is only a paltry 6 feet.

Tacoma’s Superior Interior

It’s also bad news for the Frontier when you get behind the wheel. The Frontier’s plasticky interior looks uninspired and lacking in any refinement with hard surfaces and awkward angle. In fact, Ganz goes on to say that the Frontier’s rather “blocky” cabin “…feels as old as it is” with “…some odd design quirks.”

Compare this to the Tacoma TRD Pro’s expertly crafted interior that’s both spacious and beautifully designed. The instrumentation is clean and intuitive. Soft-touch materials and such upscale touches as supple and supportive, available leather seats, available dual-zone climate control, and a surprisingly quiet cabin set the Tacoma’s interior apart.

The Tacoma also has more front and rear legroom, more rear shoulder room, and more hip room than the Frontier.

Tacoma Tops In Tech

The Tacoma TRD Pro also wins the tech wars with its full-featured suite of infotainment technologies. The available Entune™ Audio System features a 7-inch touchscreen display and the ability to access your compatible smartphone’s many apps and functions. Bluetooth® wireless technology lets you stream your favorite playlists and make hands-free calls. The available Qi-compatible wireless charging feature (not offered on the Frontier) allows you to ditch the cord. And you’ll be able to easily record all of the exciting off-road adventures you take in your Tacoma with the standard, integrated GoPro® windshield mount that makes it a snap to use your GoPro® wherever you go. You won’t find that on the Frontier, that’s for sure.

Tacoma The Performance & Fuel Economy Champ

But it’s where the rubber meets the road, rocks, and dirt that the 2017 Tacoma Pro really pulls out ahead of the 2017 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X. For starters, let’s talk about performance. The Tacoma wins this contest hands down with its outstanding 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 direct-injection engine beating the Frontier’s less powerful and less sophisticated sequential multi-port 4.0-liter V6 in horsepower, fuel economy, and towing prowess.

By the numbers, the Tacoma’s V6 achieves 278 horsepower compared to the Frontier’s 261 horsepower. And when properly equipped with a Tow Package with Trailer Sway Control, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 pounds, or carry a 1,440-pound payload. Not only does the Frontier tow less, but it also can’t beat the Tacoma’s fuel economy numbers either. You’ll find that the Tacoma gets up to an EPA-estimated* 23 mpg on the highway compared to an EPA-estimated* 21 mpg on the highway for the Frontier. You’ll also drive farther in a Tacoma, with a cruising range of 420 miles compared to the Frontier’s 357 miles.

Tacoma Rules The Off Road

TRD Off-Road Double Cab. Photo: Toyota.com

The Tacoma TRD Pro’s off-roading capabilities simply leave the Frontier literally in the dust. Rated “4X4 of the Year” by Peterson’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine, the Tacoma continues to reign supreme with its many class-leading features. For example, an electronic shift transfer case across all 4X4 grades that easily switches between high-range 4WD, low-range 4WD, and high-range 2WD with the turn of a dial.

The TRD’s standard electronically locking differential distributes engine power evenly to both rear wheels for more low-traction grip. Hill Start Assist, Multi-terrain Select, and Crawl Control allow the Tacoma to scramble over rocks with the agility of a mountain goat. A sturdy skid plate and exclusive TRD-tuned FOX Internal Bypass Shocks® provide more ground clearance, more travel, maximum damping, and fade-free performance to smooth out the rough stuff like no other off-road truck can.

Sure, you can take the Nissan Frontier off road too. But it just can’t match up or catch up to the Tacoma’s superior and legendary off-road capabilities.

Toyota Tacoma The Clear Winner

In the final analysis, pound-for-pound and measure-for-measure, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro outclasses and outperforms the less powerful, less capable, and obviously aging 2017 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X. Perhaps that’s why TheCarConnection.com gives the Nissan Frontier a rather embarrassing 4.8 overall score compared to a much higher overall rating for the Tacoma.

Experience Legendary Savings At Toyota World Of Newton

The rugged, reliable, and rock-solid 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is still King of the Hill. And it looks to stay that way for a long time to come. Experience the Tacoma’s legendary off-road performance for yourself by taking one for a test drive at your preferred Newton, NJ Toyota dealer, Toyota World of Newton.

We’re celebrating the arrival of the New Year with special dealer discounts and Toyota factory incentives on our inventory of 2017 Toyotas for sale in New Jersey that will put a new Toyota in your driveway for less in 2017.

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